Machine for cleaning window shades



June 18, 1935. I P. F. NARDULLI ET AL 2,005,199

MACHINE FOR CLEANING WINDOW SHADES Filed Dec. 13, 1953 '5.- 10 33- 5 I 38 62 57 az 26 60 a: 1. e0 341 37 42 54 J4 41 "1; 31 1 39 INVENTORS PETER FT NARDULLI AND MICHAEL. J. NARDULLI ATTORNEY.

Patented June 18, 1935 I UNITED A VSZ'T'ATES PATENT OFFICE v r I 2,005,199 i l MACHINE FOROLEANING' wnvnow SHADES" J -Peter FyN al'dulli and Michael J. Nardulll,

Chicago, Ill. U V Application December 13, 1923, Serial No. 702,138

I ,12 Claims. (oi s-4o) V r 7 Our invention relates to an improved machine will not find its way into the v"drum, The tank for cleaning window shades, by which the shade I4 is preferably made of sheetmetal and is promaybe placed'in the machinewithoutremoving .vided withend and side walls around the lower it from its roller, and cleaned onboth sides be part of the drum 10,110 hold the cleani liquid 5 fore removing the shade from the machine; and cover the: lower part of the outer surface of:

-Mo're specifically, our invention consists of a the drum H]. Suitable reinforcing bars may rotary drum for receiving the shade'tobe cleaned, used as desired, in connection with these sheet which drum is mounted in a tank containing the metal structures, as indicated for example; for liquid employed to clean the shade, and brushing the ends or thedrum ID at I'Od.

10 means for removing the dirt and foreign matter The shaft I l' is extended at one end beyond from the shade in its wetted condition, suitable its adjacent bearing l2, and has rigidly secured q gearing and clutch mechanism being provided to ita bevel gear l5 meshing with bevel gears lli to rotate the drum first in oneclirection and then and 11 mounted on a vertical shaft l8 supported in the other direction, at the will of the operator, in suitable bearings 19', '28 and 2| carried by the so that both sides of the shade maybe cleaned framework 13, the bearings l9 and 20 also sew-1 without removing the shade from the machine. ing to hold the bevel gears [Band II in mesh with By our v n i n, We pr vi improv d d the bevel gear is. The bevel gears I 6' and ll are vi s f r r tainin h h d r ll r in a recess in mounted for free rotation relatively to the shaft the drum of the machine, so that the shade'need I8, unless restrained'from said relative rotation 20 t be r v d f o th r'du theeleanby the' clutch mechanism carried by said bevel ing'of t Shade, Said dev being adjustable 1 gears and said shaft as follows: The bevel gear e g and hold rollers of different' 'desi'red I6 is provided with a downwardlyextending hub lengths Corresponding With di r t widths of Hiaforming one member of a clutchior co-operac d Within h apa t of th 'm g tion'with a second clutch member 22 rigidly se- 25' 1 invention w best be understood. byrefercured to the shaft l8, said shaft being movable 5 ence to the accompanying drawing illustrating v rti allyiin t upporting bearingsand also in" meferrfed form f our ma ine in w h i the bevel gears mono H, to engage and disen-' Illustrates 0111 machme in from gage the clutch members lfia and 22. The bevel tlon, i gear "is provided'with an upwardly extending 2 illustrates our a n in end elevation, hub Ila constituting one member of a second 3 is a plan View of a part 9 one end of the clutch for engagement with a co-operatingclutch machine, to ilmstrate the gearmg em member 23 rigidly secured to the shaft I8, the re.- drlve the brushing mechemsm, Y lation of the clutch members zzcricl 23'being is fragmentary plan View tqanen such that when the clutch members I 6a and 22' L, -larged scale, of a part ofthe drum of the ma-- are in engagement with each other the clutch o5- illustrating the roller e e e device's members Ha and 23' are in disengaged relation, i a I the relation of the clutch members 22 and'23i 5 15 an el n of Mo 3 to each other being preferably such that for an m 7 r 1 i i intermediate position'tof tlie lieit l8 vertically, slmflar numerals f i PP neither the clutch members mo and nor, the

thmughqut h F Vlews' r i r I clutch members 11a and 23 are in engagement Smwn t a WEI-meal 5 with each other; for which cO'ndition, the shaft mounted for l andlsecuredf a H!- may rotate, without rotation of the drum I0. .i Swift extindmg m: t S3191 r The shaft l'8 belovr'the bearing 20, has rigidly Shaft Supported m bearings secured toit, a grooved collar 24 containing the P 3 ii g fbg g y gigga fi g ends or an operating yoke25 rigidly secured to the cllectivelydesignated |3,.WhiC1fli:meWOfl3lQ l lgfi i zali r ddozgnggr snegragglihiodm tiifigilgdfing .aroun e. 1 i e' ooi v i f giriiifi oi 553313 13310? i i l ionee i i n b 1 ro in drum is preferablyimade of metal turn framework '3. I hehdfler endof its ends and side walls being secured together in o is iv e co nect i one of a any suitable manner, for example by welding, to lever, fp y ppf d' at y r rack t' completely enclose the drum so that the water or 30 which issupported in turn by the framework ther cleaning liquid employed in the tank. l4, t3 of themachine; theother end of s'ald lever 55 J 28 being pivotally connected with the rear end of a treadle 3| pivotally supported at 32 by brackets 33, 33 which are in turn supported by the framework l3 of the machine. The front end of the treadle 3| is provided with a treadle pad 34 conveniently located for engagement by the foot of the operator of the machine. A spring 35 is disposed between the yoke 25 and the bracket 21 to hold the shaft I8 and the parts connected therewith, in their uppermost position, when the treadle pad 34 is not depressed.

As a result of the construction just described, when the operator depresses the treadle pad 34, the rod 25 is moved downwardly, thereby disengaging the clutch members l Sa and 22, and for continued downward movement of the treadle pad 34, engaging the clutch members Ha and 23, which, as a result of therelation ofthe bevel thetreadle pad 34 to its mid-position, the shaft l .8 is rotatively disengaged from both of the bevelgears I 5, and I], to stop rotation of the drum [0, without interrupting the rotation of the shaft 28, to permit placing a shadein the maor removing-a'cleaned shade therefrom.

(The shaft I8 is extended below its bearing 2| to support a bevelgearj35 below said bearing and in mesh with a second bevel gear 3'1 carried by ahorizontal shaft 38 supported in a bearing 39 from the framework 23, and carrying at its other end a worm :wheel 40, which worm wheel meshes witha worm 4! carried by the shaft of a motor 1 42-employed, to drive the drum Ill and also the brushing mechanism of the machine. The bevel gear; 36 issplined on the shaft I8 so that the shaft may move axially through the gear, but be incapable in any of its positions relatively to said gear, of angular movement relatively to said gear.

The other end of the shaft H is extended beyond its adjacent bearing l2, and has secured thereto a wheel 43 connected by a chain or equivalent belt 44, with a second wheel 45 preferably of considerably smaller diameter than the wheel 43 and. carried by a short shaft46, the other end of which has secured thereto a gear 41 meshing with a pinion as illustrated in Fig. 3, which pinion is secured to one end of a horizontal shaft 49 extending across the machine parallel with the drum ID to support and drive a rotary brush 50, the bristles of said brush being moved rapidly across the surface of the drum I0 or across the is purposely considerably larger than the pinion 48 and as a result, the brush 50 is rotated at a high rate of speed for slow rotation of the drum (0, to the end that the washing and cleaning effect produced by the brush 5!) shall be a maximum, and at the same time permitting relatively slow rotation of the drum and the shade carried thereby. 7

The drum I0 as shown in Figs. 2 and ,5, has formed longitudinally in its outer side surface, a groove or depression 53 preferably having side walls tothe lower portions of which, guide bars 54 are secured, which bars extend longitudinally of the groove 53 and are substantially parallel with the bottom wall of said groove. The bars 54, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, support sliding blocks 55, 56 and 57 for holding a shade roller 58 in said groove. The block comprises a base portion and an outwardly extending flange portion 55a provided with an opening to receive one of the end supports of the roller 58. The base portion of the block 55 is provided with edge grooves which are a sliding fit on the bars 54, 54 and said block is also provided with a thumb screw 59 for clamping the block in desired position on the bars 54,54. The block 51 is constructed similarly to the block 55, excepting that it does not directly support the other end of the roller 58, but has extending from it towards said roller, two guide rods 50, 6B which extend through the block 56 and are provided with heads outside of said block. Springs 6|, 6i are located around the rods 60, 60 between the blocks 56 and 51, to separate the blocks as far as the heads on the rods 60, 6!], or the adjustment of the devices in supporting theroller 58, will permit. The block 51 is provided with a flange portion 51a and with a thumb screw 62 for securing it in any desired position on the bars 54, 54, and the block 56 is of substantially the conformation of the flange portion 57a of the block 5'1, and is provided with an aperture in its outer part to receive the end support of the roller 58 remote from the block 55. The deviccs described for mounting the roller 58 in the groove 53, permit the roller to be mounted in any desired position longitudinally of'the groove, and also permit the mounting in the groove of rollers of difierent lengths within the capacity of the machine, it being understood that the drum Ill is somewhat longer than the length of the longest roller to be mounted on the drum and therefore than the width of the widest shade to be cleaned by the machine. The roller mounting devices also provide a convenient means for cleaning a plurality of shades of the same width, for after the blocks 55 and 5'! have been secured in desired position in the groove 53 for the particular length of roller and width of shade to be handled by the machine, the rollers may be inserted between and supported by the blocks 55 and 56, one after another, by movement of the block 56 relatively to the block 51 against the action of the springs 6! 6!, thus materially expediting the work of inserting and removing the rollers.

With the. roller 58 placed in the groove 53 as described, the shade 63 is drawn around the surface of the drum ID by the rotation of the latter, until its entire length rests against the drum, the drumbeing made of a circumference somewhat greater than the length of the longest shade tobe cleaned by the machine. The supports for the roller 58 permit its free rotation until the shade 63 is entirely unwound from the roller, and continued rotation of the drum in a direction to wrap the shade 63 around the drum, moves the shade past the brush 50, so that all parts of the surface of the shade which is then outermost, are thoroughly cleaned by the scrubbing actionof the brush. The rotation of the drum in the direction referred to, is continued until the cleaning action on the first side of the shade is completed, it being understood that in some cases it may be necessary to give the drum a greater number of rotations than in other cases, before the shade is cleaned, depending upon the degree and manner in which the :shade is soiled. When the shade is completely 'cleaned on its outermost surface, the treadlepad 34 is de'pressedby'the operator, which, as above described, reverses the direction of rotation of the drum H]. For this condition, when the'free end of the shade is carried into the tank 14, it leaves the .drumand the shade collects in .folds inthe'tank: until the roller 58 passesthrough the, tank, after which, continued rotation of the drum in its reversed direction, wraps the shade 63 around the drum: in thesreversed direction and exposes the second side of the shade-to the cleaning action of the brush 5!], and as before, rotation of the. drum. is continued until thesec- 0nd side of the shade is completely cleaned.

gin-Figs. i and 5, the shade .roller 58 is shown with the shade 63 removed therefrom tomore clearly illustrate the construction and relation of the parts in the groove 53. In using the machine, it will be understood that the shade remains attached to the roller as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,'in the same condition that the shade is used on awindow. The framework i3 is preferably'providedwith a semi-cylindrical trough 64 to receive the shade in loosely. wound condition while it is being first wrapped around the drum l0, and the trough 64 may be employed to receive the cleaned shade when it is removed from the drum, or the shade may be removed from the machinefor drying in any'other desired manner. To permit the operator to insert a shade roller between the supporting blocks 55 and 56, and to permit the removal of the roller of a cleanedshade from said blocks,- the treadle pad 34 is depressed to move the clutch mechanism to its mid portion, for which the rotation of the drum ceases and the shade supporting blocks may be moved as desired to engage or release a shade roller.

The tank 14 may contain any desired cleaning fluid whether it be water and soap or some other detergent, or any other desired solvent for the grease or dirt that may be on the shades to'be cleaned, and although the brush 50 is preferably above the level'of the liquid in the tank l4, said brush soon becomes completely wetted by the liquid as a result of the carrying of the liquid to it by the shade being cleaned.

While we have shown our invention in-the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this exact construction as we may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

,What we claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary drum, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, a drivshaft, gearing between said shaft and said drumfor selectively rotating said drum in either of two directions for rotation in a single direction of said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gearing for drum rotation in eitherdesired direction, and devices for mounting a shade roller longitudinally on said drum, whereby a shade attached tosaid roller may be wrapped around said drum by rotationv of, the latter and cleaned on both sides by said brushing means for .a single mounting of said roller on said drum.

, 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary drum, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, "brushing "means adjacent said drum, a

driving shaft, gearing between said shaft'and said drumror selectively rotating said drum, in either of two directions for rotation in a single direction of said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gearing for drum rotation in either desired direction, and devices for mounting'a shade roller longitudinally onsaid drum, whereby a shade attached to said roller maybe wrapped around said drum by rotation of the lat-. ter and cleaned oniboth' sides by said brushing means for a single mounting of saidroller on said drum, said mounting devices comprising sub;

stantially parallel guide'bars carried by and ex tending longitudinally of said drum, "blocks mounted for sliding movement on said bars for engagement withthe: ends oil said roller, and clamping devices for holding said blocks .in desired positions on said bars. w

.3. In a machine of the class described, the com bination of a'rotary drum, a tank 'for containing cleaning liquid around thelower portion of said drum,zbrushing means adjacent said drum, 1a driving shaft, gearing between said shaft'andsaid drum for selectively rotating said drum in either of two directions for rotation 'in'a single direction of said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gearing for drum rotation; in either desired direction, and devices for mounting a shade roller longitudinally. on said drum, where'- by a shade attached to "said roller maybe wrapped around said drum by rotation of the 'lattenand cleaned on both sides by said brushing'mean's for asingle-mountingof saidrolleron said drum,

said mountinggdevi'ces comprising substantially parallelxguide barscarried by and extending longi tudinally-of said drum blocksmounted for sliding movement on said bars, and clamping devices for holding said blocks in desired positions on said bars, one of said blocks having an aperture-for receiving one end support of ashade roller, a

second one of said blocks having an apertureior receiving the other end support of said shade roller, athird one'of-said blocks carrying parallel rodsextending through said second block and substantially parallel with said guide bars, and

springs on said rods between said secondand said i third blocks, said clamping devices cooperating with said first and said third blocks.

4. ,Ina machine of the class'described, the cornbination of a rotary drum, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around thelolwer portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, a

driving shaft,cgearing between said shaft and said drum for selectively rotating saiddrurn ineither of two directions for rotation in a single direction of said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gearing for drum rotation 'ineither desired direction, and devices for mounting a shade roller longitudinally on said drum, whereby a shade attachedto'said roller maybe wrapped around said drum by rotation of the latter and cleaned on both sides bysaid brushing means for;

' 5. In a machine of theclass described, th

combination of a rotary drum, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the loweri 'portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, 2. driving shaft, gearing betwe'en saidshaft and said drum'for selectively rotating, said drum in either of'two directions for rotation in a single direction of said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gearing for drum rotation in either desired direction, and devices for mounting a shade roller longitudinally on said drum, whereby a shade attached to said roller maybe wrapped around said drum by rotation of the latter and cleaned on both sides by said brushing means for a single mounting of said roller on said drum, said mounting devices comprising substantially parallel guide bars carried by and extending longitudinally of said drum, blocks mounted for sliding. movement on said bars for engagement with the ends of said roller, and clamping devices for holding said blocks in desired positions on said bars, said drum having a longitudinal side depression containing said guide bars and said blocks.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary drum,'a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, a

' driving shaft, gearing between said shaft and said drum for selectively rotating said drum in either of two directions for rotation in a single direction of said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting'said gearing for drum rotation in either desired direction, and devices for mounting a shade roller longitudinally on said drum, whereby a shade attached to said roller may be wrapped around said drum by rotation of the latter and cleaned on both sides by said brushing means for a single mounting of said roller on said drum, said mounting devices comprising substantially parallel guide bars carried by and extending longitudinally of said drum, blocks mounted for sliding movement on said bars, and clamping devices for holding said blocks in desired positions on said bars, one of said blocks having an aperture for receiving one end support of a shade roller, a second one of said blocks having an aperture for receiving the other end support of said shade roller, a third one of said blocks carrying parallel rods extending through said second block and substantially parallel with said guide bars, and springs on said .rods between said second and said third blocks,

said clamping devices cooperating with said first and said third blocks, said drum having a longitudinal side depression containing said guide bars and said blocks, said depression having an open side freely admitting said roller by lateral movement of said roller. c

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum rotary about a horizontal axis, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, and devices for'mounting a shade roller on said drum with a shade attached to said roller, with said shade extending from said roller around said drum for cleaning by said brushing means, said roller having end bearing supports, and said mounting devices engaging said roller end supports to hold said roller on said drum.

,8. ma machine of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum rotary about a horizontal axis, a tank for, containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, and devices for'm ounting a shade roller on said drum with a shade attached to said roller, with said shade extending from said roller around said drum for cleaning by said'brushing means; said brushing means comprising a rotary brush extending longitudinally of said drum, and gearing for driving said brush by rotation of said drum, said roller having end bearing supports, and said mounting devices engaging said roller end supports to hold said roller on said drum.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum rotary about a horizontal axis, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, and devices for mounting a shade roller on said drum with a shade attached to said roller, with said shade extending from said roller around said drum for cleaning by said brushing means, said drum having a longitudinal side depression containing said mounting devices, said depression having an open side freely admitting said roller by lateral movement of said roller.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum rotary about a horizontal axis, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, and devices for mounting a shade roller on said drum with a shade attached to said roller, with said shade extending from said roller around said drum for cleaning by said brushing means, said mounting devices comprising substantially parallel guide bars carried by and extending longitudinally of said drum, blocks mounted for sliding movement on said bars for engagement with the ends of said roller, and clamping devices for holding said blocks in desired positions on said bars.

IL'In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum rotary about a horizontal axis, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, and devices for mounting a shade roller on said drum with a shade attached to said roller, with said shade extending from said roller around said drum for cleaning by said brushing means, said mounting devices comprising substantially parallel guide bars carried by and extending longitudinally of said drum, blocks mounted for sliding movement on said bars, and clamping devices for holding said blocks in desired positions on said bars, one of said blocks having an aperture for receiving one end support of a shade roller, a second one of said blocks having an aperture for receiving the other end support of said shade roller, and springs between said second block and a third one of said blocks, said clamping devices cooperating with said first and said third blocks.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum rotary about a horizontal axis, a tank for containing cleaning liquid around the lower portion of said drum, brushing means adjacent said drum, and devices for mounting a shade roller on said drum with a shade attached to said roller, with said shade extending from said roller around said drum for cleaning by said brushing means, said mounting devices comprising substantially parallel guide bars carried by and extending longitudinally of said drum, blocks mounted for sliding movement on said bars, and clamping devices for holding said blocks in desired positions on said bars, one of said blocks having an aperture for receiving cne end support of a shade roller, a second one of said blocks having an aperture for receiving the other end support of said shade roller, and springs between said second block and a third one of said blocks, said clamping devices cooperating with said first and said third 5 blocks, said drum having a longitudinal side depression containing said guide bars and said blocks, said depression having an open side freely admitting'said roller by lateral movement of said roller.

PETERF. NARDULLI. MICHAEL J. NARDULLI. 

